Culture, Fungus, Not Hair, Skin, Nails

Test Code

37960

CPT Codes
87102

Includes

If culture is positive, then identification will be performed at an additional charge.

Possible add-ons: 90272, 92265, 90273, 92267, 92268.

If the organism cannot be identified by the original method or if there are multiple organisms, identification by DNA sequencing may be performed at an additional charge.

Preferred Specimen

1 mL abscess collected in a sterile leak-proof container or
1 swab abscess, wound exudates, aspirates or lesion material collected in Amies liquid transport swab, Amies gel transport swab, Amies liquid elution swab (ESwab®) or equivalent or
3 mL body fluids or CSF collected in a sterile leak-proof container or
1 swab ear, oral, throat, nose, nasopharyngeal, wound or genital specimen collected in Amies liquid transport swab, Amies gel transport swab, Amies liquid elution swab (ESwab) or equivalent or
Any amount of eye/corneal scrapings collected in a sterile leak-proof container or pre-inoculated agar media or
2 mL sputum, lower respiratory, or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, brushing, washing or aspirate collected in a sterile leak-proof container or
Any amount of tissue or biopsy collected in a sterile leak-proof container or
10 mL urine, first morning, clean-catch midstream, catheter collected, surgically collected, or after prostatic massage collected in a sterile leak-proof container

Minimum Volume

1 mL abscess • 1 swab abscess, wound exudates, aspirates or lesion material • 1 mL body fluids/CSF • 1 swab ear, oral, throat, nose, nasopharyngeal, wound, or genital specimen • Any amount of eye/corneal scrapings • 1 mL sputum, lower respiratory or BAL fluid, brushing, washing or aspirate • Any amount tissue/biopsy • 5 mL of urine

Instructions

Sterile container. Add a small amount of saline to biopsy and soft tissue specimens. Transport swabs in liquid or gel transport medium. Corneal specimens may be directly inoculated onto media, sealed tightly and submitted at room temperature.

Respiratory - If H. capsulatum is suspected, transport at room temperature.

Transport Temperature

Raw specimens: Refrigerated (cold packs)
Swab specimens in transport medium: Room temperature

*If H. capsulatum is suspected transport at room temperature

Specimen Stability

Sterile leak-proof container
Room temperature: 72 hours
Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable

Swabs
Room temperature: 72 hours
Refrigerated: Unacceptable
Frozen: Unacceptable

Pre-inoculated agar media
Room temperature: 72 hours
Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable

Lower respiratory
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 72 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable

Urine
Room temperature: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 48 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Specimens transported in alcohol or formalin • Specimens in EDTA, citrate or yellow-top ACD vacutainer tubes • 24-hour urine collections • 24-hour sputum collections • Non-sterile containers • Viral transport medium • Stool specimens • Hair, skin, nails

Methodology
Culture

Setup Schedule

Set-up: Daily

Clinical Significance

Fungi can infect the cerebral spinal fluid, other body fluids, and tissues. Infections occur more commonly among patients who are immunocompromised. Early diagnosis and effective treatment can reduce the likelihood of severe sequalae.

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.